Not long ago we analyzed Present Perfect Simple, but, as you already know, every Simple has a Continuous. First of all, the word “continuous” denotes the duration of an action, and “ Present Perfect” hints at outcome and unfinished time.

If we sum up it together, it turns out that Present Perfect Continuous Tense is a long action with a result, and the time is unfinished.

I’ve been reading an interesting book this week (and I’m still reading). - This week I'm reading interesting book(and I'm still reading it).

Let's take a closer look at how the Present Perfect Progressive is formed. C"mon.

Education Present Perfect Continuous

Affirmative form formed using the auxiliary verb " be" in Present Perfect or " have been” (“has been” for pronouns “he”, “she”, “it” and nouns in singular). The semantic verb is the present participle or Participle I (verb + ending “-ing”).

I have been reading.- I am reading.
We have been running.- We're running.
You have been playing.- You're playing.
They have been working.- They work.
She has been eating.- She's eating.
It has not been running.- He is running.
It has been working.- It works.

Negative form is formed if we put the particle “ not" between " have» (« has") And " been».

I have not been reading.- I do not read.
We have not been running.- We don't run.
You have not been playing.- You're not playing.
They have not been working.- They do not work.
She has not been eating.- She doesn't eat.
It has not been working. - It doesn't work.
He has not been smoking.- He does not smoke.

IN interrogative sentences auxiliary " have" or " has» taken out to the beginning of the sentence, followed by the subject, then “ been" + Participle I.

Have I been reading?- I am reading?
Have we been running?- Are we running?
Have you been playing?- You're playing?
Have they been working?- They work?
Has she been eating?- Does she eat?
Has he been running?- He is running?
Has it been working?- It works?

And of course, don’t forget about abbreviations (“ contractions»):

I have been V+ing = I've been V+ing.
You have been V+ing = You've been V+ing (they've, we've).
He / she / it / John has been V+ing = He’s / she’s / it’s / John’s been V+ing.
Has not been V+ing = hasn’t been V+ing.
Have not been V+ing = haven’t been V-ing.

Using the Present Perfect Continuous

We use given time, If:

• the action began in the past, lasted for some time and is still ongoing in the present. This function shows a long-term action; it comes from the Continuous aspect.

She has been talking for more than an hour, my ears hurt!“She’s been chatting for over an hour, my ears hurt!”
I’ve been trying to call you all day!- I've been trying to reach you all day!
He’s been waiting for you for six hours.- He has been waiting for you for 6 hours (he started waiting 6 hours ago, and is still waiting).

Since this function shows the duration of an action, the question in the Present Perfect Continuous usually begins with the expressions “ how long"(how long, what time) and " since when"(since when, starting from what moment).

How long have you been learning English?- How long have you been learning English?
I have been learning English for four years.- I have been studying English for 4 years.
Since when have you been learning English?- Since when have you been studying English?
I’ve been learning English since I was 10.- I have been studying English since I was 10 years old.

Nota Bene: if we are talking about an action that continues in the present time, then the translation into Russian will be present.

• The action ended recently, and now its result is visible. The influence of Perfect Simple is immediately apparent. But, using the Perfect Continuous, we emphasize that the action lasted for some time in the past.

You look so tired. What have you been doing?-You look so tired. What did you do?
Why is the pavement wet? Because it's been raining.- Why is the sidewalk wet? Because it was raining.
I have been smoking for 2 weeks, that’s why I’m so green.- I smoked for two weeks, that's why I'm so green.

Nota bene: if we are talking about completed long-term action with results in the present, then translate into Russian in the past time.

When using verbs " work», « teach», « learn», « live» used as Present Perfect Simple(emphasizes the fact of the action), and Present Perfect Continuous(emphasizes the duration of action).

He has been living in London for 5 years. = He has lived in London for 5 years.- He has lived in London (for) 5 years.
She has been teaching English since 2010. = She has taught English since 2010.- She has been teaching English since 2010.
They have been working in this company since they moved here. = They have worked in this company since they moved here.- They have been working for this company since they moved here.

• There are state verbs (“state verbs” - “be”, “have”, “know”, “love”, etc.), instead of the Present Perfect Continuous we use the Present Perfect Simple.

She has been in London for 2 years.- She has been in London for 2 years.
How long have you known him?- How long have you known him?
I’ve known him for 10 years.- I've known him for 10 years.

Although in colloquial speech you can often hear the following phrases:

I"ve been having problems with the car recently.- I recently had problems with my car.
I"ve been wanting to talk to you.- I want to talk to you.

If speak about Passive Voice (passive voice), then time Present Perfect Continuous Passive V English language not used. Instead we use the usual one Present Perfect Simple Passive.

The author has been writing this book for 3 years.- The author wrote this book for 3 years.
This book has been written for 3 years.- This book took 3 years to write.

Differences of times

As you have already noticed, when translating from Russian into English, the question always arises: “What tense should I use?” Let's figure it out.

• Present Perfect Continuous vs Present Perfect.

Present Perfect translated as “present perfect (completed) tense.” We use it when we talk about an action that happened in the past, but we see the result of this action now.

I have just cooked a cake.- I just made a cake.

In this sentence, you focus on the result - you have a finished cake. It doesn’t matter at all how much time you spent preparing it - only the result is important.

Now let's see how the meaning of the sentence in Present Perfect Continuous. I have been cooking a cake for three hours already. I've been preparing the cake for 3 hours already. As you can see, in this sentence we focus on the result and duration of the action. That is, we are talking not only about the result of the action (the finished cake), but also about how long this action took place before the result was obtained.

• Present Perfect Continuous vs Present Continuous.

Present Continuous translated as "present continuous tense". We use it when we say that an action started some time ago and is still going on. At the same time, we emphasize that it (the action) is still in process.

I am cooking a cake.- I'm making a cake.

You say that in this moment you are in the process of cooking, that is, you started cooking some time ago and are still cooking now. At the same time, it doesn’t matter to us how long you’ve been cooking, what’s important is that you’re doing it at the moment.

Compare with the sentence in the Present Perfect Continuous:

I have been smoking since morning.- I smoke in the morning.

In this sentence, we focus not so much on the fact that we are currently smoking, but on the fact that it took us a certain time. That is why such sentences always contain time indicators (“ since morning», « In one hour», « all evening" etc.).

• Present Perfect Continuous vs Past Continuous.

Past Continuous is translated as “past continuous” tense. We use this tense when we talk about an action in the past that lasted for some time.

He was reading a book all night.- He read a book all night.

In this sentence we are talking about a process in the past that lasted for some time. But note that this process has nothing to do with the present. For example, last week he had an exam and he spent the whole night studying for it. Now let's compare with the Present Perfect Continuous:

He has been reading a book all night.- He read a book all night.

As we have already said, the Present Perfect Continuous shows that the action has recently or has just completed, and we can see its result at the present moment. For example, he now looks tired (result) because he stayed up all night reading a book.

Conclusion

Today we learned about Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) Tense. We learned how to properly form and use this time. We were convinced that there is still a big difference in what time to use, although in the Russian version everything sounds almost the same. You may have thought that this topic was very complicated and incomprehensible, but now you are definitely aware.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with other tenses of the English language

Keep studying grammar and use your skills!

Big and friendly EnglishDom family

When learning English, students can spend a long time learning about Perfect and Continuous tenses in order to learn to use them automatically. Therefore, you can imagine their feelings when they come to such a terrible topic as Perfect Continuous. This is two times at once, and not so simple at that! However, these fears are completely in vain, and now we will see this using the example of the Present Perfect Continuous tense (pronounced [present perfect continuus]).

Present Perfect Continuous Tense (also known as Present Perfect Progressive Tense) or present perfect continuous tense is a tense in English used to express actions that began and either lasted up to a certain point in the past, or continue to last.

This time is used relatively rarely, since it is often replaced by Present Perfect, but it is still necessary to know it, because in certain situations it will not be possible to do without it. Moreover, correct usage sentences in the Present Perfect Continuous will only confirm your high level knowledge of the language, and therefore will attract praise from native speakers. Let's look at how this time is formed and used.

The formation of the Present Perfect Continuous is similar to the formation of the Present Perfect and. To form this tense, two verbs are needed: auxiliary and semantic. The auxiliary verb is to be in the Present Perfect form. It has 2 perfect forms depending on person and number:

Semantic verbs are formed using Participle I or the present participle. To form it, you must add the ending –ing to the verb.

Actually, that's all. By adding both parts, you get a verb in the Present Perfect Continuous Tense:

Present Perfect Continuous: sentence forms

We've sorted out the formation of verbs, now let's see how to make sentences with them in various forms.

Affirmative sentences with Present Perfect Continuous

The affirmative form of the Present Perfect Continuous is, as always, standard: the subject is used first, followed by the predicate, expressed by auxiliary and semantic verbs. Any minor member can complete the sentence. Table for clarity:

This example is used in Active Voice or active voice. If you want to use Passive Voice ( passive voice), you may have difficulties.

• Firstly, to form the Passive Voice in the Present Perfect Continuous you still need to try, because you will need to use 4 verbs in a row.
• Secondly, even if you can easily cope with the first task, you will agree that phrases in Passive Voice a la “have been being understood” sound at least unusual.
• Thirdly, Passive Voice is not used by native speakers these days, so even they will not be able to appreciate your efforts.

Yes, theoretically it is possible to construct a Continuous Passive, but in practice no one needs such proposals. In general, do not make English difficult for yourself or others and do not use the Continuous Passive. If you need to show that the action was not performed by a person/object, but was directed at it, use not the Continuous Passive, but the Passive Voice in the Present Perfect tense.

Negative sentences with Present Perfect Continuous

The negative form in Present Perfect Continuous Tense is formed by adding the negative particle not between have (has) and been:

Abbreviations are possible in both affirmative and negative forms:

You may have noticed that has in affirmative sentence abbreviated in the same way as is. To understand what tense is used, keep the rules of education in mind. present perfect long time in English it always requires after has the verb been. If both of these verbs are in a sentence, then the speaker is using this particular tense.

Interrogative sentences with Present Perfect Continuous

The interrogative form is built based on the type of question:

• For general issue it is necessary to move auxiliary verbs have and has to the beginning of the sentence. Been remains in its original place:

• IN alternative question some second member of the sentence is added for choice, which is supported by the conjunction or (or):

• Special questions are identical to general questions, only they use a question word before have (has):

• In a dividing question, you need to use an affirmative or negative sentence, followed by a short question:

Present Perfect Continuous: usage

Present Perfect Continuous Tense or present perfect continuous tense is used in the following situations:

1. To express an action that began in the past and is still ongoing. In this case, the speaker knows when the action began and how long it has already lasted. He cannot say when the action will end.
   Typically, such sentences contain indicator words: recently (the other day), lately (recently), quite a while (for a long time / a long time ago), these ... weeks (how many weeks), all my life (all my life), all day (long) / this month / this year (all day, month, year); as well as time markers for (during) and since (since), which are used as hints for the use of this time:

In the same case, time can be used to ask a special question. Such a question usually begins with the words: how long (how long) or since when (from when):

1. Present Perfect Continuous Tense is also used in cases where an action began in the past, lasted for a certain time and ended recently. This option emphasizes the duration of the action that led to some result in the present. Markers in such sentences may be omitted:

1. The Present Perfect Continuous is also used in cases where we mean that some action happened earlier. This conclusion is drawn from what is heard/seen. More often this option is used in a negative context:

1. The present perfect continuous tense is also used in complex sentence, which has a subordinate tense. Temporal markers for entering subordinate clauses here are limited to one word since (since). This subordinate clause used in Past Simple, and most importantly, it is built in the Present Perfect Continuous:

1. Don't forget that Continuous tenses are not used with state verbs or state verbs that express feelings, perception, mental activity, possession of something. In this case, instead of the Continuous tense, the Present Perfect is used:

However, there are exceptions here. The use of Present Perfect Continuous is possible if it is necessary to highlight an action, to give it a more pronounced shade. So, for example, in the Present Perfect Continuous you can find the verbs wish (to desire), want (to want) and mean (to gather):

1. Also pay attention to those verbs that are used in both the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous. Such verbs include words that themselves imply a continuous action. For example: live (live), sleep (sleep), study (learn), teach (teach), work (work), run (meaning “manage”):

If the situation continues to last for a certain period, but is temporary or will soon change, use the Present Perfect Continuous:

It is worth noting that, despite the similarity of features not only with the Present Perfect tense, but also, in some way, with the Present Continuous, you cannot use sentences replacing the Present Continuous with the Present Perfect Continuous and vice versa. These times have different meaning and cannot be interchanged.

Present Perfect Continuous translation into Russian

Worth paying Special attention Russian translation of Present Perfect Continuous. As you already know, this tense either indicates an action that lasted and ended, or an action that began and is still ongoing. Accordingly, based on the choice of one of the two mentioned cases, the translation is constructed. So, if we want to show that the action has already ended, when translating into Russian we use imperfective verbs in the past tense:

If the action is still ongoing, then the translation is carried out with verbs used in the same form, but in the present tense:

You can understand what tense is implied based on the context.

The present completed continuous tense, as you can see, is not as difficult as it looks at first glance. Since this time is limited to certain situations, it accordingly does not have a wide variety of uses. It is also quite simple to build, especially if you are already familiar with other times. So don't avoid the Present Perfect Continuous, use it correctly, and if you need to review any rules associated with it, come back to this page and re-read the examples. You can also consolidate your knowledge by going to the page

Education Present Perfect Continuous
(have/has been + …-ing)

Present Perfect Continuous (Present Perfect Progressive) is formed with the help to be in the shape of ( have been, has been) and the present participle form of the semantic verb: I have been working.
When adding endings to verbs -ing sometimes there are changes in their spelling, for example have/hav ing. More about .

Abbreviated forms:

‘ve= have
's=has
haven't= have not
hasn't= has not

Using the Present Perfect Continuous

1. An action that began in the past, continued for some period before the present, and which is still ongoing at the present time. The period of time during which the action lasted is always indicated or implied: marker words ( for … hours/weeks/years – for … hours/weeks/years, since 10 o’clock – since 10 o’clock, since morning – since morning, since 2005 – since 2005). Often the Present Perfect Continuous is translated with an adverb already.

Examples: I have been working since 9 o'clock in the morning. – I work from 9 o’clock in the morning.
She has been living in Venice for 2 years. – She has been living in Venice (for) 2 years.

2. The action is ordinary, constant, i.e. happening in general, but indicating how long the action takes (used with marker words). If it is not indicated how long the action takes, then instead of the Present Perfect Continuous, use (action that was performed at the time of speech) or (usual, constant action).

Examples: It has been snowing for 2 days. – It has been snowing (already) for 2 days. (indicating how long the action takes - within 2 days)
It is snowing. - Snowing. (without specifying how long the action takes)
She has been studying French for 10 years. - She teaches French(10 years already. (indicating how long the action takes place - within 10 years)
She is studying French. – She is learning French. (without specifying how long the action takes)

3. Sometimes the Present Perfect can be used instead of the Present Perfect Continuous. If the speaker wants to emphasize the duration of an action, the Present Perfect Continuous is used, and if the speaker wants to emphasize the fact of the action, the Present Perfect is used.

Examples: I have been working there since 1997. -I have been working here since 1997. (the goal is to emphasize the duration of action)
I have worked there since 1997. – I have been working here since 1997. (the goal is to emphasize the fact of the action)

4. Used in interrogative sentences with question words (since when - from what time, since when, how long - how long, how much time), If we're talking about about the period that precedes the moment of speech.

Examples:How long have you been sitting here? – How long have you been sitting here?

5. Not used with verbs that do not have the Continuous form ( to be, to have, to love, to hate). Instead of the Present Perfect Continuous, the Present Perfect is used. More about .

Examples: How long have you known her? – How long have you known her?

Confused about use of Present Perfect and Past Simple? Some useful clarifications on this topic!

Hi all! I remember at the beginning of learning English, I was very often worried about the difference between the use of Present Perfect and Past Simple. He often made mistakes when speaking and could not understand when it would be correct to use “I’ve been” and when “I was.” As you know, both phrases translate as “I was.” If you are experiencing the same difficulties, then read this short article “The difference between i’ve been and i was” to the end and perhaps everything will become a little clearer to you.

Using "I was".

Friends, whenever you cannot decide between “I was” and “I have been,” always quickly refresh your memory of the conditions under which these two tenses are used!

After all, you know that we never use the Present Perfect, if we know exactly when in the past we performed this or that action! That is, if you want to say “I was in London last summer,” the phrase “last summer” is a marker that determines the time at which it would be best to say this phrase in English. Do you know exactly when I was in London? Yes, last summer! So the correct option would be:

I was in London last summer.

I've been to London last summer.

If in a conversation you just want to say that you have already been to London (sometime in the past, just as a fact), then the Present Perfect Tense is eager to fight:

I've been to London.

More examples:

I was there two times.

(I've been there twice)

The implication is that it is clear from the context when exactly you were there twice in the past. For example, you might be discussing your summer vacation with a friend. In English, a lot depends on the situation.

I've been there two times.

(I've been there twice)

In this case, it is absolutely not clear from the topic of conversation exactly when you were there. This could have been a week ago or right after you were born. In this case, you are simply stating a fact - I was there twice.

Using “I’ve been.”

So, from the first part of the article it became clear that when using “I’ve been” we are in no way attached to any specific moment in time in the past.

By the way, after “I’ve been” it would be correct to use the preposition “to” and not “in”:

I’ve been to London - I was in London.

I’ve been to Thailand - I was in Thailand.

I’ve been to Moscow - I was in Moscow.

There is another difference between the use of Past Simple and Present Perfect. Let's say there are two phrases:

I've been at home.

What is the difference? Again, the first case assumes that you were home in the past (for example yesterday), but now you are no longer at home.

Using “I’ve been” means that you were at home, say this morning, and now you are still at home.

She was the best student in the class.

She has been the best student in the class.

In the first case, she was the best student in the class. But now she is no longer studying, or is no longer the best.

In the second case, she was the best student in the class, and still is.

Once again I want to emphasize that in English a lot depends on the context, the topic of conversation, and the situation. The ability to feel the temporary difference in a specific situation and helps to use right time. All this comes with experience and practice. If you are having trouble with this now, just keep studying and very soon everything will become clear to you and you will stop being confused English times. Now you know the difference between ive been and i was

Keep learning English and good luck to you working week!

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